Grant Funded R&D Competitions

The Niche Vehicle Network continues to invest in R&D projects focused on the niche and specialist vehicle manufacturing sector.

Sponsored by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), Innovate UK and the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), our competitions are focused on providing SMEs active in the low carbon vehicle technology sector with funding to undertake collaborative research and development activities within the following areas:

1. The Niche Vehicle Feasibility Competition provides grants for industry-led projects focusing on catalysing innovative low carbon vehicle technologies through the undertaking of initial desk-top research activities. Eligible projects under this competition are not required to be collaborative.

3. Production Readiness Competition provides grants for UK SMEs and their supply chain to take existing low carbon vehicle technologies from demonstration through to production readiness in a compressed timescale, leading to significant economic benefits whilst reducing CO2 emissions.

The Niche Vehicle Network is supported by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, Innovate UK, the Advanced Propulsion Centre and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and is managed by Cenex